Home for Hope

February 12, 2008

By Emily Arthur-Richardt earthur@aberdeennews.com Hope, a 90-pound Great Dane, bounds to the door with an abundance of energy, greeting each visitor with a nudge of her head before turning to run the other way. While a quick look shows the consequences of what officials said was neglect - Hope's back legs don't function as they should - the dog doesn't seem to notice her own disabilities. She's friendly, and more importantly, she's happy, said Kayla Beard, director of the Aberdeen Area Humane Society. "She's very curious," Beard said. "She's going to be a puppy for the rest of her life. She's a great dog. We all love her so much." Hope, now 15 months old, is a far cry from what she was when she came to the Aberdeen Area Humane Society in June of 2007. Hope was underfed - she weighed only 24 pounds, she had trouble walking - doctors said she broke her leg when she was little and it was never healed - and she was covered in fleas and ticks, Beard said. "She's a major transformation," she said. "She's definitely the biggest improvement I've ever seen in an animal." Hope was part of 29 animals rescued from west of Aberdeen last year. For more on this story, check out Wednesday's American News.